Ministers explore applying microbead ban to household products

Officials have asked for more proof of microbead damage to marine life in move to extend cosmetics ban to all products washed down drainThe government is exploring whether its ban on tiny pieces of plastic in cosmetics should be extended to other household products, to protect fish and other marine life.Ministers promised earlier this year to ban microbeads in personal care products such as toothpaste and face scrubs by the end of 2017, but stopped short of pledging to ban them in other products